Don't be fooled, Housing permits number is what to look for not housing starts.

3

We all know the weather has been very difficult this winter and could be the major factor in housing starts not meeting estimates. What we will have this spring then is pent up demand as Housing permits are well above estimates. If you combine today's housing permits plus the housing starts that got delayed because of weather, we should see very strong housing starts in 6 weeks. Which is the beginning of March.

You can't start a house foundation if the ground is flooded or the Ground is frozen. Concrete needs temperatures to be above freezing within a 48 hour period after placement by code otherwise you risk having a cold joint in your foundation wall.